21/09/2012

Three people jailed for stealing a hospital power cable

Thieves who stole a power cable from a Shropshire hospital, which was connected to a mobile MRI scanner, were today sentenced to a total of two and a half years at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Ricky Filmer, aged 23, Eric Bennett, 24 and a youth who cannot be named for legal reasons, all pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to stealing a 10 metre cable which provided electricity to the mobile scanner.

“This was a thoughtless and irresponsible offence that caused the cancellation of numerous appointments for MRI scans and risked this vital piece of equipment being irreparably damaged.

“These individuals’ actions were motivated by greed and they gave little regard to the damage that they caused or the wellbeing of others.

“The CPS is determined to take a firm stand against metal thieves and, in accordance with the Director of Public Prosecutions’ specific guidelines on metal theft, will highlight the widespread public harm caused by these acts, beyond the monetary value of the goods stolen, which will allow the court to sentence appropriately.”

Background:

In the early hours of 12 May 2012, police officers stopped a van which contained the defendants and, during their search of the vehicle, they found a large length of cable along with a hacksaw. Later that morning, the police received a call from the Nuffield Hospital in Shrewsbury to report the theft of a power cable.

The court heard that the cost to the Nuffield Hospital for replacing the cable was £8,839.

Filmer was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, Bennett to 16 months imprisonment. The youth was sentenced to a 12 month Youth Rehabilitation Order and 100 hours’ unpaid work.